Dhaka: Turkish Airlines has extended its suspension of all international flights as well as halted all domestic operations, both until May 20, in efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the flag carrier said in a circular on April 14.

In early April, the airline previously announced suspension of all its international flights until May 1 while limiting domestic operations to 14 metropolitan cities.

However, as the death toll caused by the coronavirus has risen to 1,403 in the country till date including 107 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the airline has now cancelled all domestic flights and extended suspension of international flights until May 20 "in accordance with the decisions taken by the country's authorities and to protect the public health from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic".

In the circular, mentioning 69 countries including Bangladesh, the airline said, "passengers who are nationals of these countries, passengers who have transited from or been to these countries in the last 14 days and passengers arriving from these countries will not be permitted to enter Turkey and they should not be allowed to board the aircraft. Otherwise, they will be entered into a 14-day quarantine upon their arrival to Turkey."

Zero Change Fee or Change to Open Ticket

For passengers' convenience, Turkish is offering Zero Change Fee and Change to Open Ticket policies for domestic and international flights. If anyone's travel has been rescheduled, he can benefit from the Zero Change Fee right and re-plan his flight comfortably. On the other hand, if anyone has not planned his trip, he can benefit from the Change to Open Ticket and utilise it after his plans are made.

This is applicable for tickets purchased till March 20 and for travel till December 31.

Also, for those planning on making a new reservation, the carrier is offering Change Without Penalty or Change to Open Ticket rights. Anyone can change domestic and international tickets purchased between March 21 - April 21, 2020 for travel until February 28, 2021 or he can change his ticket into and Open Ticket.